Any good, experienced climbers here?

[frenchy]

 Anyone here into climbing or know someone who is and would like to possibly help out (indoors) for a couple hours?

Need to change some light bulbs in a gym. Tear down, re setup and total downtime for moving all the equipment and floor is too much.  That is what normally happens to get a scissor lift in place to do the work.

Have an approx. 40 ceiling, open steel beam deign, pretty much as pictured below. One climbing rope already permanently setup...

[wired]

Scissor lift is about all you can do. There are a few companys that specialize in lighting. Try giving them a call.
I would NOT use an extension ladder for that kind of work. Not safe at all.

[frenchy]

Scissor lift is about all you can do. There are a few companys that specialize in lighting. Try giving them a call.
I would NOT use an extension ladder for that kind of work. Not safe at all.

Problem with the lift, wether we rent it ourselves or again hire an outside contractor is moving the padded floor and huge amount of gym equipment...

We currently have 8 year old girls that climb the existing rope to the top. So I figured a grown man with climbing experience should be able to clip himself in at the top and change a bulb  Then swing over to the next burnt out bulb 

They do it from tree top to tree top, carrying chainsaws on TV, this should be easy. (For someone other then me  )

[AV.NINE]

just get a harness and a grappling hook.

Park jeep and winch at doors.

Then do it batman style.

[tubby]

My brother is a very experienced climber who also sets up concert equipment part-time(lights and sound equipment)

Give me a shout later Serge and we can arrange something.

[yyc_tbird_sc]

I'm a level two rope access tech. Give me a shout at 862-9181. Figure something out....

[Knox]

I'm a level two rope access tech

did you just make up your own title? or is that actually something, if so what is the current level cap?

[w squared]

did you just make up your own title? or is that actually something, if so what is the current level cap?

Ummm. Very quick to criticize him, especially when he's trying to help out. Rope Access Techs use a similar system to High Angle / Rope Rescue techs (which is where my qualifications are).

Level 1 techs can perform a limited range of tasks, and/or assist more qualified techs.

Level 2 techs can perform any commonly done task.

Level 3 techs are generally tasked to supervise an entire site of  technicians, or as instructors.

[Knox]

... how have I never heard of this before 

where does one learn this trade?

[FiEND]

when i think about it, i think of window washers downtown or firemen maybe... radio towers....

never heard of it either

[w squared]

It's not that hard. Just find an employer that's willing to pay you a week's worth of wages to take the course, and also pop for a $2K or so tuition fee. For level I. Then repeat for Level II. Then spend $10,000 on kit and ropes for you and your team, and get a couple thousand hours of applying the theory under your belt on a job site, and then you can look at taking a run at Level III. Some places (like the company I work for) need a lot of qualified people. We've actually built three simulators, spent the money to train our own trainers, and teach all of our rescue techs in house now.

If you're looking to get this sort of training and aren't going to apply the skills professionally, there are options if you want to pay for it yourself...and have the spare time.

http://www.rocorescue.com/training/

The ROCO instructors tend to be pretty rammy, but they put on a good program.

[yyc_tbird_sc]

If you're interested, there are basically two governing bodies when it comes to rope access. IRATA (International Rope Access Trade Association) and SPRAT (Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians). I'm a Level II tech with SPRAT, and if I ever get the time...I'll challenge the IRATA course as well so I have that certificate as well.

I haven't had the ability to get too much time on rope this year, my full time job doesn't allow me to use rope access (long story, too many people that don't understand it). I work with a few different people in town that use rope access, and have worked with some of the window washer groups (although I have some very strong feelings about a few of the window washer groups).

I've been doing it for about two years, and it's a good time. Except when it's cold out. You're exposed completely to the elements while on rope. But I've had the chance to rappel off towers at SAIT, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, multiple buildings downtown, helped to train quite a few new rope access techs, participated in some advanced rescue courses, and even helped with some confined space/trench rescue courses (on the rope side of things). If you're willing to work at heights, and respect them fully, this is a great trade. There are many different things you can do...Check out SPRAT's webpage here: http://www.sprat.org/, IRATA's webpage here: http://www.irata.org/.  If you want to learn the trade, or can convince your current boss to pay for it, send me a PM, I'll get you in touch with the group I work with that does some training for SPRAT (or if you need anything other training for work at height).

Here's an example of how rope access should not be used (although it looks like a hell of an adrenaline rush! Warning for language, so turn the volume down if you're at work or kids around. IRATA does not approve this due to the swing factor, you're not allowed to have any swing factor when you're working in rope access.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W04m2UJK3M0

[yyc_tbird_sc]

I don't see any lights in the pic...or i'm blind. What kind of lights are they, and how many, and where are they mounted?

[Spinalguy]

Hey, can a rope access tech climb my 40 foot pine tree and put Christmas lights up?

[yyc_tbird_sc]

Probably could...but I tend to try to stay away from pine trees. They're too sticky...truthfully, I'm not a big fan of climbing trees to begin with (and yes, I do rock climb). Alot of arborists use the rope access trade for their work, with some slight alterations for what they do